Mitch Mustain bristles whenever anyone asks about when he started at quarterback for Arkansas two years ago.

Even the benefit of starting eight games for the Razorbacks counts little as he battles freshman Aaron Corp to see who might replace injured Mark Sanchez for USC’s season opener against Virginia.

“Arkansas was a little different,” Mustain said. “It was arbitrary.”

That is Mustain’s way of saying he did not get along with then-Coach Houston Nutt, which prompted him to transfer to USC.

Perhaps it’s the right viewpoint, because USC coach Pete Carroll said those eight games matter little when picking a new starter if Sanchez is unable to return from his dislocated left kneecap.

“That was a totally different system Mitch played in before, so it’s not a great help,” Carroll said.

Since Sanchez got hurt Friday, Mustain has held a slight edge on Corp, mainly because of his extra year of experience. During Tuesday’s scrimmage at the Coliseum, there was not a lot of difference between them. Corp started out with the first team and completed six of 13 passes for 60 yards. He also ran six times for 27 yards.

Mustain completed nine of 13 passes for 94 yards with an interception. But neither led the offense to a touchdown or field goal.

“When you don’t score any points, it can’t be a great day,” Carroll said.

Every pass Mustain and Corp make receives scrutiny in USC’s training camp. They have different styles. Mustain is more of a pure dropback passer while the athletic Corp is able to run as well as pass. Mustain has a stronger arm, but Corp is taller and more mobile.

They are both soft-spoken, however, which contrasts with Sanchez, who likes to lead with enthusiasm.

“Maybe the offense would change just a little bit (against Virginia) because Mark is such an upbeat guy,” linebacker Brian Cushing said. “If either started, the team perspective wouldn’t change at all.”

Mustain might be naturally quiet, but it’s easy to tell his feelings by his facial expressions. He was clearly down when Sanchez was named the starter last spring, but found a new sense of urgency when it became apparent he might start against Virginia.

“Yeah, I do feel (eager),” he said. “The mistakes are more frustrating now, because the situation is more important.”

Corp also was resigned to being a reserve the opening days of camp before he got thrust back into the spotlight.

“Definitely, it’s time to go play and play football,” he said. “It’s a chance to show what you have. It’s always valuable for me to get more experience, so in that sense, it was a positive but I’m not happy to see Mark get hurt.”

Carroll said he is in no hurry to name a starter, especially when both quarterbacks spent just a season in the system. But he said whoever starts, it will not hinder the Trojans, who were ranked No. 2 in the coaches’ top-25 poll.

“We never change our preparation or what we do because of an injury,” he said.

Last year, he gave John David Booty every chance during the week to prove he recovered from a broken finger before starting Sanchez for three straight games. But to say nothing changes is not quite true. USC often ran the ball on third-and-long plays with Sanchez to keep things conservative, especially when the ball was deep in their own territory.

It would not be a stretch to expect similar play-calling, at least initially, if Mustain or Corp played the first game.

But maybe with three weeks to prepare for Virginia, the quarterbacks won’t be as limited. Sanchez made his first start in the fourth game and got just one week of practices.

“It’s too soon to start worrying about the offense,” Carroll said.

Another factor in their favor is that Corp and Mustain play under control despite their limited time with the first-team offense.

“The biggest difference with Mitch is his sense of poise; he’s more poised now (than in the spring),” said USC wide receiver Damian Williams, who also played with Mustain at Arkansas and in high school.

Williams said Corp has changed since spring drills also.

“He is more of a general now,” Williams said. “He knows what he’s doing. A lot of people see Aaron as mobile, but he has a great arm and is accurate as well.”

The one thing neither quarterback wants to do is jinx their chance. Asked Tuesday if going with the first-team meant he was ahead of Mustain, Corp said, “I’m not going to say that.”

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